Flap splitting machine



y 1943- J. s. KAMBORIAN FLAP SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1941 J. s. KAMBORIAN FL AP SPLITTING MACHINE July l3, 1943.

y 1943- J. 5. KAMBORIAN 2,323,915

I FLAP SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July .13, 1943. Jjs. KAMBORIAN 7 2,323,915

FLAP SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Jun 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 13, 1943- J. 5. KAMBORIAN 2,323,915

FLAP SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 13,

umreo STATE s PATENT OFFICE FLAP srm'r'rmo MAoniNE' Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass.

Application June 24, 1941, Serial No. 399,468

25 Claims. This invention relates to an improvement in a .fiap splitting machine by which the heel portion of an outsole is simultaneously bufied and pressed into close contact with the table on which it rests, a flap is split away from the grain side of the sole beginning at the heel, adhesive is applied to the surface of the sole from which the flap hasgbeen split, the flap is returned to its normal position and pressed into contact with the surface of the sole, and finally the sole is ejected from the machine, all as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The primary object of this'invention is to provide such a machine which includes a table on which the soles under treatment rest, bufllng, splitting and adhesive-supplying instrumentalities and a frame by which said instrumentalities splitting of the flap has been completed and as the flap is being returned to its normal position fourth, the flap is pressed back into the position from which it was split and while so pressing it back it is buffed a second time and caused to adhere to the sole proper, and'sixth, the completed sole is ejected from the machine.

The motor 30 ives'a shaft 31 to which pulleys -32 and 33 are ecured. The pulley 32 is connected by a belt or other means, not shown, to a pulley 35 (Fig. 1) mounted upon a stub shaft 36 (Fig. 3) upon which is also mounted apulley 31 (Fig.- 1) The pulley. 31 is connected by a belt to a pulley 38 on the shaft 39 '(Fig. 4) of the buifiiig roll. The shafts 36 and 39 are connected by an adjustable link 40 having at its ends sleeve portions 41 and 42 which are coaxial with the respective shafts. r By means of link 46 the shafts may, be relatively adjusted so as properly to ten-.

sion the belt. The stub shaft 36 is supported by the main drive shaft 31, being carried by an arm 43 having annular heads 46 and 44 at its upper and lower ends respectively. The annular head 44, which is concentric with shaft 31, is arranged to rock about a fixed hollow boss 45 projecting from the side wall 2 of the frame. The annular head 46 is interposed between the sleeve '41 and the pulley 31. Preferably, as shown, the shaft 36 is stationary and the pulleys'35 and 31 are conin which it is held by, adhesive applied to the surface of the sole; I

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in Fig, 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating the control of the adhesive-applying elements; and

Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 are sectional views illustrating various positions taken bythe sole-supporting table. The power by which these various instrumental-ities are operated is supplied from any suitable source as, for example, an electric-motor 30 here shown (Ffig, 4) as mounted between the side walls 22 of the machine frame upon a. crossplate 23 secured at its ends to vertical flanges 24 on nected to constitute a. unit which'turns freely on the shaft 36. The shafts 36 and 39 which are bodily movable longitudinally of the machine are kept at a predeterminemalthough variabledis tance apart by the link 40. The. distance between the axis of the shaft 3| and that of the shaft 36 is constant. v

A The pulley 33 is connected by a belt or equivalent means 56 (Fig. 1) with a pulley 5| fixed on a shaft 52 (Fig.- 2) which, through gearing worm 53 and 54, drives a longitudinally extending shaft ,55. The shaft 55 has a beveled gear 56 at its inner end which'meshes with a beveled gear 51 on a-transverse shaft 58. A crank 66 fixed to one end of'shaft the side walls. The motor 30 drives the various operative elements of the machine in definite relation to each other whereby the soles are subjected to successive operations asfollows; first, the heel end of the grain side of the sole is buffed, second, a flap is split from the grain surface' 0 the sole, third, adhesive is applied to the exposed surface of the sole from which the flap was split,

58 imparts motion to a link 62 which connects the crank 60 with an arm 61 fixed to the shaft 59. The shaft 59 turns in a sleeve 63 carriedby one of the side walls 22 of the frame. Mounted upon the shaft 52 is a sec- 0nd pulley 65 (Fig, 4) which drives a pulley 61 (Figs. 1 and 4) on a shaft 68 by means of a belt,

not shown.

The work-supporting tablej15 (Fig; here shown is adapted to receive two soles S (usually the right and left of a pair) as indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 1. The soles S rest upon beds -16 supported by yieldably separated plates 11 and 18, (Fig. 4) base beams 19 and a bottom plate 89 carried by brackets 26' integral with the side members 22 of the frame, each bracket comprising a vertical flange member 25. The bottom plate 88 is secured by screws 8| to the lower edge of the flanges 25, and the forward ends of the flanges are connected by a crossplate 26 (Fig. 3) to form a housing open at top and rear for the table elements. The base beams I9 are secured to the bottom plate 88 by screws I8 or the like, and are spaced from each other and from the flanges 25 to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending parallel channels.

Reciprocable in the channels provided between the base beams I9 and the side flanges 25 are bars 82. Each bar has at its forward end a horizontal socket which receives one end of a spring 83, the other end of saidspring bearing against the crossplate 26 and yieldably resisting forward movement of the bar. The rear end of each bar 82 is at all times held in contact with the periphery of a cam disk 64 (Figs. 1 and 3) on the shaft 58 by a spring 83. The contour of the disk 84 is such that, as the shaft rotates, the bar 82 is slowly advanced, thus compressing the spring 83, and is quickly returned to the starting point by the spring 83 (see Fig. 3) when such movement is permitted by the cam.

In the upper surfaces of the bars 82 are formed bevel-ended depressions 85 (Fig. 2) which coact with cam projections 86 upon the under side of the plate I8. The plate 18 is yieldably held down with the projections 86 in contact with the upper surfaces of the bars 82' by suitable spring means. In the illustrated embodiment (see Fig. 4) bolts 81 are secured at their upper ends to the plate I8 and project below the bottom plate 88, and expansion coil springs 88 surround the shanks of the bolts and bear at their ends upon the under surface of the bottom plate 88 and the upper faces of the bolt heads. Upon the advance of the bars 82 by the rotation of the cam disks 84, the projections 86 which normally rest in the depressions 85. (see Fig. 3) move up mounted bars I88.

the bevel ends of the depressions onto the upper edges of the bars. The plate I8 is thereby raised and acts, through springs 89, yieldingly to elevate the plates 11 and beds I6.

A bar 98 (Figs. 4 and 6) mounted in the space between two beams I9 at the longitudinal midcenter of the machine is, like the bars 82, reciprocable and carries a spring 9| in a pocket at its forward end, such spring 9| bearing against the crossplate 26 and yieldably resisting any forward movement of the bar. The bar 98 is advanced by'a cam disk 92 (Fig. 1) on the shaft 58, the rear end of the bar being yieldably held by its spring in contact with the periphery of the cam disk 92. The contour of the disk 92 is such tht the bar98 is moved in unison with the bars 82, being slowly advanced as the shaft rotates and then released so that the spring returns it to the starting position. The beds 16 and plates 11 are separated by a partition strip 83 (Fig. 4) The strip 93 enters a groove extending longitudinally of the plate I8 midway between the side edges and'is yieldably urged upward by springs 94. The plate I8 is provided with cam projections 95 which normally rest in bevel-ended depressions 96 in the upper edge of the bar 98. At the beginning of the operation the bar 98,- which has been moved by the spring 9i into the position shown in Fig. 6 so that the partition strip 93 is l raised. isadvanced by the cam 92 so that the plate I8 will descend of its own weight and the partition strip .93 be either below the surface of the table, as shown in Fig. 4, or be depressed against the urge of the springs 94 by the weight of the roller I38 when, as will be set forth below, it operates on the soles.

In the channels defined by the beams I9 mid-I way between the bar 98 and the bars 82 are The bars I88 extend parallel to the bars 82 and 98 and, like such bars,are yieldably moved rearwardly by springs I M seated in pockets in the forward ends of the bars and bearing against the crossplate 26. The bars I88 are provided in their upper faces with longitudinally extending bevel-ended depressions I82. Each depression comprises a main portion with a base I83 and a shallower rearward extension therefrom with a base I84. The beds I6 and plates 1! and I8 have axially aligned openings which receive vertically reciprocable pins I85 whose heads I86 normally rest in said depressions I82. Cross straps I81 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) connect corresponding pins. Springs I88 seated in sockets formed in the under side of the plate I8 act upon the heads I86 so as normally to hold them seated in the depressions I82. When, as shown in Fig. 9, the heads I86 rest upon the bases I84,

the pins I85 project above the upper faces of the beds and raise the soles resting thereon out of contact with the upper faces of thebeds. Preferably such faces are roughened as by the formation of the teeth I89.

A shaft II8 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) extends behind the table I5 and over the bars I88 and has a gear II2 fixed at each end. These gears mesh with rack teeth II3 on the bars I88. so that the shaft I I8 is rotated in unison with any reciprocation of the bars. Slidable longitudinally of the machine is an ejector member II 5 mounted in guides carried by the vertical flanges 25 of the machine. Secured to the undersurface of the member II5 are rack bars II6 which mesh with the gears I I2 and are rotated thereby.

The rear ends of the bars I88 are held by the springs I8I in contact with cams I I! mounted on the shaft 58. As shown particularly in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the cams are so formed that as the shaft rotates the bars are slowly advanced from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 9 and then suddenly retracted to the initial posi tion. As the bars are advanced the pins I85 are raised to lift the solesoff the beds I6 and when the bars are retracted the soles are lowered onto the beds and the plate H5 is advanced to e'ect from the machine the soles which had been previously raised and lowered-and were then resting lightly on the beds.

While the soles S rest on the table I5 the heels thereof are first bufied, then flaps F (Fig. 2)

extending forwardly from the rear edges of the buffed heels are split from the soles and raised, and finally the flaps are again returned to contact with the soles and removably secured thereto.

The elements, by which the soles are so treated. are supported. upon a frame I28 which includes side walls I2I and crossbars I22, I23 and I 24, the bar I 23 being here shown as integral with the side walls. The bases; I25 of the side walls I2I rest upon the horizontal bracket members 26' of the main frame. Bars 21 secured to the bracket members 28 by screws 28 or other suitable means in cooperation with the vertical flanges 25 define tracks in which the bases I25 ride,the adjacent faces ofbases and bars being beveled, as shown in Fig. 4, or otherwise so formed that the frame I23 are rearwardly extending rack'bars I26 to which the ends of the crossbar I22 are rigidly secured. The teeth of the rack bars I26 mesh with teeth of pinions I21 carried by the rock shaft 64 which-is actuated by a segment I26 fixed to the stub shaft 59 and in mesh with one of the pinions I21: The rack bars I26 are held in mesh with the pinions I21 by idler rolls I29 rotatably supported by theside walls 22 of the main frame. Through the mechanism thus described, including the bars I26 and pinions I21, the frame I20 is reciprocated as a unit over the main frame of the machine, relative to the table and to the soles S carried thereby.

At the forward end of the frameI is mounted the heel-bumng mechanism. Such mechanism includes 'a bufiing roller I30 keyed to the shaft 39 for rotation therewith, the ends of the shaft 39 being journaled in bearing units I1, I32. The unit I32 includes a tubular extension I33 coaxial with the shaft 39 and which is fixed within the ,I

sleeve portion 42 of the'link 40.' The forward ends of the. side walls I2I. are connected by a cross-tube I34 which forms a support for a concentric sleeve I35. The sleeve I35 is rockable on the tube and to it are secured the bearing units I3I, I32. An idle roll I36 carried by the unit I32 rides on oneof the vertical flanges 25 of the main frame and limits the movement of the roller assembly toward the table 15. A horizontally elongate bar 29 (Fig. 4) rests in a slot in the upper edge of the forward part of the flange and constitutes a. support for the roll I36 at certain periods in the operation of the machine. A screw 29I' (Figs. 2 and 3) engages the forward end of the bar 29 and is operative to adjust the bar forwardly and rearwardly. A bolt 292 (Fig. 4), carried by the flange 25, adjustably retains the bar 23 in desired position; A spring I31 (Figs. 3 and 4), seated in a socket I38 in the part I32, yieldingly urges the roll I36 downwardly toward the upper surface of the table. A screw cap I39 mounted in a boss I40 (Fig. 4) projecting inwardly from one side wall I2I of the, frame, re-

ceives the upper end of the spring-l31 and is 4 cut away to form an opening through which rays of light pass from a bulb I46 within the tube. The tube I34 is 'rotatably supported in the side walls I2I and carries at one end a knurled cap 841 (Fig. 1) by which the tube maybe rotated to adjust thesize of the light opening. A spring finger I48 (Fig.* 1) carried by the bar 21 bears upon the cap I41 and resists any-inadvertent rotation thereof.

The means for splitting the flaps F of the soles S is mounted on the frame I20 at the rear of the sole-bufling mechanism just described. Such splitting means includes a cutting .blade I50 (Fig. 3) (adjustably secured to the under side of the crossbar I23) and a crossrod 'I5I supported by the side walls I2 I. The cutting edge of the blade I50 projects forwardly of the crossbar I23. The rod I5I is mounted between the crossbar I23 and the hood I43. The rod I5I is cylindrical at the ends and includes an eccentric 75 5 adhesive to flow through the passage.

' end ofthe pocket "I is connected by a hose I14 cylindrical central portion I52-which projects over the cutting edge of the blade I50. Fixed to one end of the rod "II is a pinion I53 (Fig. which is in mesh with the threaded lower e d 5 of a set screw I54 rotatably supported in an ear I55 that projects outwardly from one side wall 10 rod I5I thereby to provide a predetermined but optionally variable thickness of the flap F.

After the soles S are ejected from the machine they are subjected to further treatment and in order to hold the flapF intact and to prevent any 15 tearing or other injury thereto means is provided by which the split flap is returned to its original position andtemporarily secured in contact with the surface of the sole proper. Preferably adhesive is applied to one or both of the surfaces 2 which are thus brought into contact when the flap is returned to its initial positiom In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the adhesive is applied in lines to the surface of the sole and the flaps are returned to their former position under pressure. Such means will now be described in detail.

The adhesive is applied by a plurality of axial lymovable plungers I carried by the crossbar I23. The plungers occupy forwardly and down- 30 wardly inclined pockets I6I in the bar and project at their lower ends'into relatively large openings I62 in the blade I50 behind the cutting edge thereof. The head I63 of each plunger is normally held spaced from the crossbar I23 by an 3:, expansion spring I64.

Formed in the crossbar I23 is a conduit I65 connected by ports I66 with the pockets I6I.

The conduit I65 is supplied with adhesive from a stationary tank I61 (Fig. 2) mounted upon the 40 main machineframe. Leading from the base of the tank is an outlet passage I68 by which adhesive is fed under pressure to a hose N9 and thence to one end of the conduit I65. A pair of intermeshing gears I10 act as a pump to compel the One gear I10 is carried and rotated by the continuously driven shaft 63. The other gear is mounted upon a freely rotatable shaft. The tank I61 is preferably inclined (see'Fig. 2) and in one wall is provided a pocket "I leading from the interior of the tank and normally closed by a valve I12 yieldably held seated by a spring I-13. The other to the other end of the conduit I65. Thus a 55 continual circulation of the adhesive is established; i. e., from the tank I61 through the passage I66 and hose I63 to the conduit I65, through the conduit and back to the tank through the hose H4 and pocket I1I, the valve I12 being raised by the pressure of the flow. A set screw I15 is provided to regulate the tension of the spring I13 and hence the pressure exerted by the adhesive.

The passages I66 leading from the conduit I65 to the pockets I54 are closed by the rods I 60 when no supply of adhesive is desired. Needle valves I16 of any well-known type are provided to regulate the amount of adhesive to be supplied to the passages I66 and also;to close the passages when the machine is not in use. The lower end of each plunger -I60 is faced off so that the end surface is in a plane parallel to the soles. In the lower-end of each plunger is formed a passage I11 which leads from one side of the plunger in the center of the base. The inlet end of the passage I11 is normally above and out of register with passage I66.

When the plungers I60 are depressed, the passages I66 and I11 register so that the adhesive fiows to the surface of the soles with which the bases of the plungers I60 are in contact.

The adhesive is applied automatically during the retractive travel of the frame I20. Fixed to a rock shaft I16 supported in the crossbar I23 are a plurality of fingers I19 which rest upon the heads I66 of the plungers I60. One end of the shaft I18 projects beyond one of the side walls and to it is secured an arcuate arm I60 (see Fig. A dog I8I is pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon a pin I62 carried by the side wall. One end of the dog I6I bears against the arm I60 and the other end projects downwardly. Fixed upon the bar 21 carried by the main machine frame is an elongate button I63 mounted at one side of bracket I84 fixed to the bar 21. The parts are so positioned that as the frame I20 is retracted, the button I63 will engage the dog I6I, the dog I6I will engage the arm J80, the shaft I16 will be rotated thereby and the fingers will depress the plungers into the position shown in Fig. 3 and hold them so depressed as long as the dog I6I is in contact with the button I 63. l

The treatments of the soles take place during the reciprocation of the frame I20. The limits of travel of the frame I20 may be varied inaccordance with the sizes of the soles under treatment to insure that only the heel portion is bufled and split. To provide for this, the crossbar I22 thus insure close contact between the upper faces of the soles and the roller and also imbed the teeth I09 of the beds into the under faces of the soles and prevent shifting thereof. The roller I60 not only advances over the soles but is rotated (clockwise in 'Figs. 2 and 4) so that'the upper faces of the soles are bufl'ed or scuffed.

As the roller I30-advances and nears the forward or right-hand end of it stroke, as-viewed in Fig. 2, the roll I36 rides up into the cam bar 29 and thus positively lifts the roll I30 out of contact with the forepart portion of the sole.

As this preliminary bufiing progresses, the edge of the knife I 60 engages the rear edge of the sole at a level usually above the center of vertical thickness of the sole, that is to say, nearer to the grain side than to the flesh side of the sole, the

rod I 6| pressing upon 'the sole just above the cutting edge of the knife thereby to insure a uniform although optionally variable thickness of the fiap which is split from the sole as the knife advances. As the frame I reaches its forward limit the splitting of the flap is completed and the bars 82 are retracted by'the springs 63 to allow which connects the rack bars I26 toform a rigid unit is connected to the crossbar I23 by a stud I95 having a central'fixed' nut portion I91 and right,

and left threaded end portions I96 which engage suitably threaded sockets in the bars I22 and I23. The rotation of the stud I95will increase or decrease the distance between the bars, depending upon the direction of rotation and thereby va y the initial location of the frame I20. As shown in Fig. 5 the rack bars I26 are connected to the walls I by set screws I96 which pass through slots I99 in the bars so that after the frame has been given the desired length by means of the stud I95 the screws I96 are tightened to insur that it remains at that length.

The shafts 58 and 64 are so related that upon each complete rotation of the shaft 66 the frame I20 is advanced and retracted by the shaft 64, and the treatment of one pair of soles S is completed.

The sequence of operations and treatments will now be described, starting with the frame I20 fully retracted (that is to say at the extreme limit of its movement to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2), at which time the table 16 is raised, the partition 93 is raised and the pins I06 are de,- pressed. The soles S are now placed upon the beds 16 of the table 16 at opposite sides of the partition 93 preferably in contact therewith, as indicated in dotted lines on Fig. 1 with the grain surface of the sole uppermost.

As the frame I20 advances the partition 93 is lowered by the advance of the bar 90, and the roller I is brought into contact with-the soles S. Since as pointed out above the roller I30 and its associated parts are pivotallysupported upon the tube I34 and the arm 43 is pivoted on the sleeve 46, the roller I30 will be lowered by the action of gravity -into contact with the soles and yieldingly pressed against the. sole by the spring I31. springs 69 on which the beds 16 and plates 11;are supported will yieldingly oppose the downward pressure exerted by the roller and the table 16 to drop to its lower position.

During the succeeding retraction of the frame I20 the dog I 6| strikes the button I63 and through the mechanism previously described causes the fingers I19 to advance the plungers I into contact with the soles (see Fig. 3). A'constant flow of adhesive through the conduit'l66 is assured by the pump I10 so that as soon as the passages I66 and I11 are brought in register by the advance of the plungers I60, adhesive fiows from the con- -duit I66 onto the soles. This continues until the dog IOI has passed the button, at which time the plungers I60 are near the heel ends of the soles. As the frame I20 approaches its rearward limit the bars 82 again act to raise the table 16 so thatthe flaps are pressed down into their original positions on the strips of adhesive by the roller I30. Since as pointed out above the roller I 30 is positively rotated, it will act not only to press down the flaps but also to bufi the heels of the soles a second time.

When the rod I 5| has passed off the soles the bars I00 reach their final position (Fig. 9) so that the pins I06 raise the soles bodily from the beds.

Immediately thereafter the bars I00 are snapped back by the springs I M causing the plate II6 to I berepeated.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that such embodiment may be modifled or other embodiments made without dein one direction, adhesive applying means including a nomle extending through the blade of the' 2 A machine of the class described designed to treat two soles at the same time, said machine comprising a table of sufflcient width to receive a pair of soles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel and upon which the soles rest while being treated, a vertically movable partition extending longitudinally of the table and constituting positioning means with which the adjacent edges of the two soles may initially contact, a frame reciprocableover said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, means during the reciprocation of the frame in the opposite direction, and means operative to lower the sole positioning partition below the upper surface of the table prior to-the commencement of the action of the wiping means.

3. A machine of the class described designed to treat two soles at the same time, said machine comprising a table of sufficient width to receive a pair of soles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel and upon which the soles rest while being treated, a vertically movable partition extending longitudinally of the table and consti-. tuting positioning means with which the adjacent edges of the two soles may initially be engaged, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the soles resting thereon, means carried by said frame to buff the heel portions of the soles and to split a flap at the heel portion of each sole during the reciprocation of the frame in one direction, and means carried by the frame to apply adhesive to the surface of that portion of the sole from which the flap was split, the frame carrying means operative to wipe the flap down ,upon the adhesive treated surface, said adhesive applying and flap wiping means acting during the reciprocation of the frame in the opposite direction, and means for raising and lowering said table during the reciprocation of said frame, and means operative to lower the sole positioning partition below the upper surface of the table at a time before the gins to act.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a

bufiing means beframe reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a knife by which a "flap is split from the heel of the sole and raised above'the sole during the travel of the frame in one direction, adhesive applying means including a nozzle, the blade of the knife having an opening through which the nozzle may be projected, means holding the nozzle in elevated inoperative position during the splitting operation, and means for projecting the nozzle down through the opening in the knife blade at the completion of the splitting operation, and means causing adhesive to be applied through said noz-- zle directly to that surface of the sole-from which the flap was split during the travel of the frame in the opposite direction. I

5. A machine of the class described compris ing a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of-thesole resting thereon, a knife by which a flap is split from the heel of the sole and raised I above the sole during the travel of the frame knife, a dog, and means which, during the travel of the frame in the opposite direction, engage said dog and cause adhesive to be applied through said nozzle onto the surface 'of the heel from which the flap was split. I

6. A machine of the class described comprising a table. on which the sole to be treated rests, a

of the sole resting thereon, a knife by which a flap is split from the heel of the sole and raised above the sole during the travel of the frame in one direction, adhesive applying means including a plurality of transversely spaced retractible nozr zles, the blade of the knife having openings through which the several nozzles may be projected, means normally 'holding the nozzles with for their lower ends elevated out of contact with the sole, means operative to project the nozzles downwardly through the knife blade so as to dispose their delivering ends closely adjacent to that surface of the sole from which the flap has been split, means to supply adhesive to the nozzles for from which the flap was split during the travel of the frame in the opposite direction, and means for wiping said flap down upon the adhesive treated surface. e

7. A machine of the class described comprising a tableon which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a knife by which a flap is split from the heel of the sole and raised above the sole during the travel of the frame in one direction, adhesive applying means including a nozzle extending through the blade of the knife, means causing adhesive to be applied through said nozzle onto the surface of the heel from frame in the opposite direction, means for wiping said flap down upon the adhesive treated surface, and means for removing said'sole from the .table.

8. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a framereciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a knife by which a flap is split from the heel of the sole and raised one direction, adhesive applying means including a nozzle extending through the blade of the knife, means causing adhesive to be applied through said nozzle onto the surface of the heel from which I removing means including elements by which the sole is raised and an ejector which acts upon the raised sole.

9. A machine of the class a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a positively'rotated bufilng roller mdunted' on said 'frame which buffs the heel portion only of the sole at the beginning of the travel of the frame in one direction and at the conclusion of the travel of the frame in he Opposite direction, and a flap splitting knife by which the heel portion of the sole is split during the travel of the frame in the first-named direction, the flap being wiped down by said roller against the surface from which it was split during the travel of the frame in the secondnamed di nection.

frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally delivery by the nozzles to the surfaceof the sole which the-flap was splitduring the travel of the above the sole during the travel of the frame in described comprising 10. Method of preparing a sole comprising bufling the rear portion of the sole, splitting a flap of predetermined thickness from the sole, applying adhesive to that area of the sole from which the flap was split, laying the flap back against the adhesively coated surface of the sole proper the roller being pivotally supported on the frame and acting on the sole during the travel of the frame in both directions, and cam means for preventing contact of the roller with the-forepart of the sole.

12. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a heel flap splitting and adhesive applying unit, and a buffing roller, said unit and roller being carried by said frame and acting on the sole during the travel of the frame in both directions, and means for preventing contact of the roller with the forepart of; the sole, which means comprise a bar mounted on the table and projecting upwardly therefrom parallel to the forepart of the sole, and a freely rotatable roll carried by the roller mounting, which roll rides on the bar to raise the roller away from. the table.

13. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a heel flap splitting and adhesive applying unit, and a bumng roller, said unit and roller being carried by-said frame and acting on the sole during the travel .of the frame in both directions, said unit including a heel flap splitting blade having a plurality of openings therein behind the cutting edge thereof, a plurality of plungers which enter said openings, a passage normally filled with adhesive, said plungers having passages therein which lead to the lower ends thereof, and which are normally out of register with said adhesive filled passages, and means for advancing said plungers in the blade openings to bring the passages in the plungers into register with the adhesive filled passage, said plunger advancing means being actuated during the retraction of the frame to supply adhesive to the split sole.

14. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the sole resting thereon, a heel flap splitting and adhesive applying unit, and a buffing roller, said unit and roller being carried bysaid frame and acting on 'the sole during the travel of the frame in both directions, said unit including a crossbar, a heel flap splitting blade secured to the under side of the crossbar which actsduring the advance of the frame, the crossbar having pockets therein which register with openings in the blade behind the cutting edge thereof, plungers in the pockets and openings, which plungers have passages therein through which adhesive is supplied to the split sole during the retraction of the frame. I

15. A machine of the class described comprisrest, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the soles resting thereon, heel flap splittin adhesive applying and bufling instrumentalities carried by the frame, a partition strip extending longitudinally of the table between the soles, means for positively raising the strip, and means for actuating said raising means to release the strip at the beginning of the travel of the frame and to raise said strip at the end of such travel.

16. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which a pair of soles to be treated rest, a frame reciprocable over said table longitudinally of the soles resting thereon, heel flap splitting, adhesive applying and bufllng instrumentalities carried by the frame, teeth on said table upon which said soles are imbedded during the travel of the frame, means for disengaging said soles from the teeth at the completion of the travel of the frame, and means for ejecting said disengaged soles from 'the machine.

, 17. In a machine of the class described, a blade by which a flap is split from the heel of the sole,

said flap remaining connected at its forepart to the sole and being raised from the heel by the knife, means for applying adhesive to thesurface of the sole from which the flap has been split and raised, and a buffing roller operative to press the flap down upon the adhesive treated surface.

ing a table on which a pair of soles to be treated while concomitantly bufflng the exposed surface of the flap, a table on which said sole rests during such treatment, and a frame reciprocable over the table, on which frame said blade, adhesive applying means and said flap pressing means are mounted, wherebythe operations on the sole are performed during the reciprocation of the frame. 18. In a sole treating machine of the class described a work supporting table, a table having a longitudinally extending slot substantially midway between its lateral edges, a sole locating partition disposed in said slot, sole buiiing means, means for moving the table and the sole bufling means relatively, longitudinally of a sole resting on the table, means operative to hold the sole locating partition in elevated position thereby to position a pair of soles upon the table with their means operative to lower the sole locating partition before the bumng means actually contacts the soles.

19. In a sole treating machine of the class described a substantially horizontal work supporting table, means supporting the table for vertical movement to an extent approximating the thickness of a sole, the table having a longitudinally extending slot, a sole locating partition disposed in said slot, said partition being operative at times to separate two soles resting upon the table, an ejector operative to discharge soles longitudinally from the table, longitudinally slldable cam bars beneath the table each bar having'cam surfaces, means cooperable with the cam surfaces of the respective bars for elevating the table and the partition respectively, a transversely extending cam shaft, cams on said shaft operative to move the cam bars longitudinally in one direction and also to actuate the ejector, respectively, and spring means operative to restore the cam bars and the ejector to their initial positions,

20. A machine of the class described comprising a table on which the sole to be treated rests, a frame reciprocable over the table lengthwise of the sole resting on the table, heel-flap splitting means and a positively rotated buiiing roll both mounted on the frame, said roll being so supported and arranged as to tend to move downwardly into contact with a sole resting on the table, the splitting means and roll being so relatively located on the frame that the roll contacts the sole in advance of the splitting means during forward-travel of the frame, the roll operatively engaging the heel portion of the sole as the frame travels in both directions, and means including a cam element constructed and arranged to raise the roll completely out of operative contact with the sole as the roll reaches the forward end of the heel portion of the sole during the forward stroke of the frame and to maintain it in such raised inoperative position during the return stroke of the frame until the roll nears the forward portion of the heel, and means for reciprocating the frame relatively to the table.

21. Method of preparing a sole comprising the steps of preliminarily bufilng the heel portion of the sole beginning at the rear end of the sole, commencing the splitting of a flap of desired length and thickness from the grain side of the rear portion of the sole before the preliminary bumng operation is complete, completing said splitting without detaching the forward end of the flap from the sole, applying a coating of ad- I hesive to a portion, at least, of thesurface of that part of the body of the sole from which the flap was split,.laying the flap back against the adhesively coated area, and while pressing the flap into adhesive engagement with the body of the sole concomitantly completing the bumng of the rear portion of the sole.

22. Method of preparing a sole comprising preliminarily buiilng the rear portion of the sole be ginning at its rear end and progressively forwardly, splitting a grain flap from said rear portion, the splitting being commenced before the preliminary bufllng is completed, applying adhesive to the split area of the rear portion of the sole while holding the flap away from the body of the sole, and simultaneously pressing the flap back against\ the body of the sole so as to cause it to adhere to the latter while completing the bufiing of the grain surface of the flap.

23. That method of preparing a shoe sole which comprises as steps bufling the rear portion of the sole beginning at its rear end and progressing forwardly, progressively splitting a flap of predetermined length and thickness from the rear portion of the sole, the splitting operation commencing before the preliminary bufling operation is complete, coating the exposedsurface of the body of the sole from which the flap was split with adhesive, laying the flap back against the adhesively coated surface of the body of the sole, and while completing the bufling operation pressing the flap against the adhesively coated body of the sole by the action of the bufling means.

24. Method of preparing a sole, comprising the steusof preliminarily buffingaportion of the grain surface of the sole beginning at its rear end and progressing forwardly, splitting a flap from the bufied portion of the sole, and temporarily reuniting the flap to the surface of the sole from which it was split while at the same time completing the buffing of the grain surface of the flap.

25. Method of preparing a sole, comprising the steps of preliminarily bufilng the rear portion of the sole, splitting a flap of desired length and thickness from the grain side of the rear portion of the sole without detaching the forward end of the flap from the sole, the splitting operation being commenced before the preliminary buffing operation is finished, coating two parallel spaced strips of the exposed surface of the body of the sole from which the flap was split with adhesive, said strips extending longitudinally of the sole and each strip being edge of the sole, laying the flap back against the adhesively coated areas, and while pressing the flap against said adhesively coated areas completing the bufling of the grain surface of the flap.

JACOB S. KAMBORIAN.

spaced inwardly from an 

